Thumb rest on a tele bass

[TimboZ]

Show me your thumb rest on your tele bass.

Having a hard time getting use to my tele bass and I need a thumb rest.
This is what I came up with, but I would like to see what other people use.

[thedudebrah]

I have nothing to contribute other than saying that bass and that thumb rest idea are both awesome!

[jbossolo]

^ Same here.

[petrus61]

I used the (recommended) pickup cover that cam with mine. It is a tough bass to play without one, for sure. You may want to look into incorporating a 'floating thumb' technique, where your hand hovers just over the pup instead of resting on something. With a little work, it can feel even more comfortable than resting.

[grrg63]

Looks right to me. Thats a good lookin bass.

[TimboZ]

Originally Posted by petrus61

You may want to look into incorporating a 'floating thumb' technique, where your hand hovers just over the pup instead of resting on something.

I am trying to get the floating thumb thing down. Once I do I will be able to remove the thumb rest and not have any extra holes in the bass.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by TimboZ

Show me your thumb rest on your tele bass.

Having a hard time getting use to my tele bass and I need a thumb rest.
This is what I came up with, but I would like to see what other people use.

I hope you don't mind if I steal this!! Great idea for a thumb rest! You can't even see it from a distance.

[kcole4001]

I've seen a similar rest made for a Rick bass using the top two pickguard screws by the neck.
Great idea!

Nice bass, by the way!

[TimboZ]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I hope you don't mind if I steal this!! Great idea for a thumb rest! You can't even see it from a distance.

Go for it. I used 3/8 plexiglass. I might make a new one and make it a bit longer.

[mazareth]

Elegant solution for the thumbrest.

Beautiful bass too! Don't want to highjack the thread, but am I the only TBer that wants to see some more photos? I'd like to know a little more about the bass too.

[petrus61]

Originally Posted by TimboZ

I am trying to get the floating thumb thing down. Once I do I will be able to remove the thumb rest and not have any extra holes in the bass.

I really like your idea for a thumb rest and how it fits in a pre existing hole...wouldn't wanna put any more in that beauty! It's a shame the most comfortable spot to rest your thumb on these is right on the pickup, only because after some years of doing it there's a chance of damaging it. You'd think after all these years they would find a better way to protect the winding.

[Caca de Kick]

Originally Posted by petrus61

You'd think after all these years they would find a better way to protect the winding.

To me the chrome pickup cover on a SCPB is the most comfortable and absolute rigid thing for a thumbrest.

[2meterbassman]

I think, this is a great idea because it works without additional holes in the body, and nobody can see it on stage.
To me, I don't need thumbrests, because my thumb lays on the B-string, but for those players who need it, it's superb!

[TimboZ]

Originally Posted by mazareth

Beautiful bass too! Don't want to highjack the thread, but am I the only TBer that wants to see some more photos? I'd like to know a little more about the bass too.

This is the build thread

3 Wood Challenge: 52 Tele Inspired

[TimboZ]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

To me the chrome pickup cover on a SCPB is the most comfortable and absolute rigid thing for a thumbrest.

Who makes them?

[Caca de Kick]

I'm talking about the old skool chrome ashtray pickup cover. You knew that, right?
Any Fender accessory selling dealer has them, especially all over ebay.

The one issue I see with your plexi thumbrest is that only a single screw is holding it, while it looks like the "leg" of it is resting on the winding wrap of the pickup. The leg is getting the force from your thumb and anything with one screw will eventually want to rotate, so I believe the winding wrap will get dug into and frayed as time goes on. If it's a thin nylon wrap instead of twine like some, it can wear a hole and hit the windings.

[2meterbassman]

Originally Posted by TimboZ

This is the build thread

3 Wood Challenge: 52 Tele Inspired

Hey man,

I red the build-thread and I have to say:

A - W - E - S - O - M - E ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Greetz

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

...one issue I see with your plexi thumbrest is that...I believe the winding wrap will get dug into and frayed as time goes on...

+1

Force and sweat on a SCPB pickup can damage the windings, causing a short. This drives the output of the pickup down toward zero. As probably most here know, there have even been instances of these pickup coming apart when used as rests. This design, though appealing, doesn't protect the pickup well enough from downward force, IMHO.

The pickup cover or floating thumb—as suggested in other posts do afford better protection for the pickup. Pretty bass, BTW!

[Jim Carr]

Here is my 1955 P-bass:

[JACink]

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

+1

Force and sweat on a SCPB pickup can damage the windings, causing a short. This drives the output of the pickup down toward zero. As probably most here know, there have even been instances of these pickup coming apart when used as rests. This design, though appealing, doesn't protect the pickup well enough from downward force, IMHO.

The pickup cover or floating thumb—as suggested in other posts do afford better protection for the pickup. Pretty bass, BTW!

Could you extend the plexiglass so it reaches the next screw on the PG? As it is not visible, you could stop any contact with the Pup.